Florida got one key name back on its Week 3 availability report Thursday, with starting kicker Patrick Durkin moving to probable for Saturday night’s matchup against Auburn at 7 p.m. ET.
Durkin’s status is the biggest update on the Gators’ side, while wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. and defensive end Emmanuel Oyebadejo remain questionable as both continue working back from ankle injuries suffered in Week 1 against Florida Atlantic. ESPN’s Pete Thamel had previously described Singleton and Oyebadejo as “game-time decisions” in Wednesday reporting.
The full Florida report listed Durkin as probable, with Singleton and Oyebadejo questionable. Auburn’s Wednesday report showed offensive lineman Tai Buster out, while tight end Hunter Herring and edge Joe Phillips were questionable.
Durkin has been steady in his first season with UF, making every field goal he’s tried, including a 53-yarder, and going 15-for-15 on extra points. He and punter Alec Clark were the only former Tulane players to follow Florida head coach Jon Sumrall to Gainesville through the NCAA transfer portal this offseason.
If Durkin can go, Florida avoids leaning on junior Liam Padron, who handled the lone extra-point attempt against Florida Atlantic in Week 1 and converted it.
The bigger uncertainty remains Singleton and Oyebadejo. Both were seen in walking boots last Saturday, but Sumrall said they were boot-less and “very, very, very limited” during Monday practice.
“We'll know through the week. I'm not BS-ing you.
I think I told you earlier last week. I thought they were very doubtful.
This week, I'd say they're questionable. Is there a shot?
Yes. Am I ready to say they're going to play?
No, because I can't promise you that.
"But I'm not going to rush either one of them back and them not be right because it's a long season. Do we want them both to be back?
Yeah. But at the same time, we got to be smart tough, not dumb tough.
And if they're not available, if they're not ready to play the right way for themselves, it's going to hurt the team. And then also, what I don't want to do is put them back in the fray and do something that sets them back further.
We'll see as the week goes. I think we'll have a better idea Wednesday, Thursday, but we'll see."
Sumrall had been even more pessimistic before Florida’s game against Campbell, calling the two offseason transfer additions “highly questionable” and “definitely not probable” in his only media availability before that matchup.
On the field, Singleton was one of Florida’s starting receivers but did not log a target in Week 1. Oyebadejo finished that game with two tackles and a pass breakup, and he led the Gators with four quarterback pressures against Florida Atlantic.
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Auburns offense is the main source of concern, especially with Byrum Brown operating in a system he knows well and a coach in Alex Golesh who has already crossed paths with Sumrall. The Gators are entering league play knowing the schematic fit and the personnel both line up against them, which is why this matchup feels less like an early-season measuring stick and more like a test of whether Florida can handle a disciplined offense in a hostile place. [Read more 🡒]